[View the story "Online outrage over removal of feminist icon’s name from national award" on Storify ]Online outrage over removal of feminist icon’s name from national award Until a few years ago Casgrain had two distinct honours for her achievements: the Therese Casgrain Volunteer Award, which was started by Pierre Trudeau's government in 1982, and her image on the $50 bill. Storified by CTVNews.ca · Mon, Jul 28 2014 23:03:40
Therese Casgrain led the fight for Quebec women to vote
prior to the First World War. She was the first woman to lead a political party
in Canada and was appointed to the Senate in 1970. Until a few years ago
Casgrain had two distinct honours for her achievements: the Therese Casgrain
Volunteer Award, which was started by Pierre Trudeau's government in 1982, and
her image on the $50 bill.
But now, both of those are gone. In 2010, the Harper government
quietly announced it was replacing the award with one called the Prime
Minister's Volunteer Award, and after 2012 the $50 bill showed an icebreaker.
When The Canadian Press wrote about Casgrain this past
Sunday, people took to social media to show their outrage. Thousands of people
have tweeted about the government's decision in the past two days. Here is some
of what they are writing:
1st the #FamousFive from the $50 bill, now Casgrain. Why is the govt trying to erase women's contribution to #Canada? #cdnpoli #canfemDr. Kirsty Duncan
Casgrain was integral in fight 2 win women the vote in QC & 1st female head of a political party. Worth commemorating! #cdnpoli #canfemDr. Kirsty Duncan
Changing Casgrain award isnt just about dissing feminists Its also about removing #CCF/#NDP from Cnd history #cdnpoli #HarperlandDavid DesBaillets
@pmharper SHAME ON YOU! Once more u showed u have no culture, no respect for QUÉBEC history & culture with the T. Casgrain affair. #polcanMichel Dauphinais
''The true liberation of women cannot take place without the liberation of me.'' Thérèse CasgrainMichelle Smith
@pmharper The "Therese Casgrain Volunteer Award" wasn't for you to revoke and replace with the "Prime Minister Volunteer Award" #FeminismBethany
Thérèse Casgrain was a great woman. @pmharper is a very small man. #RewritingHistory or #WarOnWomen? #cdnpoli #qcpoliLocutux
Casgrain fought for the vote during Duplessis' Grande Noirceur A time when dissent was met with the full force of the state A true herotrapdinawrpool
The NDP also released a statement on Twitter disagreeing
with the government's actions.
Thérèse Casgrain deserves our utmost recognition for her contributions to the progress of women. #cdnpoli #NDP http://t.co/aBkbqmhSuGNDP_HQ
Merna Forster in Victoria began an online petition asking
"The Bank of Canada to feature significant Canadian women on our bank
notes" after the only "the only women from Canadian history ever to
make it onto our bank notes were replaced by an icebreaker."
The petition has almost 29,000 supporters.
What a shame "@jacquigingras: Feminist Icon Casgrain Removed From Award & $50 Bill http://t.co/u7XKNT4Lez via @CdnChange"Nathalie Savoie, DtP
Is Harper's gov't erasing feminist Therese Casgrain from Canada's historical record? http://t.co/aDLm2wfMl8 #cdnpoli http://t.co/nPyBtT4EZcCTV News
@CTVNews @L0cutux It's a fact. No question about that. You can affirm it loud and clear. #Harper kills Therese Casgrain's memory! #polqcMichel Laurence
"@CTVNews: Is Harper's gov't erasing feminist Therese Casgrain from Canada's historical record?" No surprise as women are marginalized by PMRoger Lawler